The human body is its own ecosystem comprised of various pH levels and flora (the bacteria that colonize on our skin, live in our gut, and coat our teeth). We co-exist with these bacteria as they help us digest food and these bacteria co-exist with each other. When there's an imbalance whether its our hormone levels or a competition between the bacteria, inflammation can occur and cause diseases and conditions like peptic ulcers, eczema, and psoriasis. From the article, what can you suggest will be the next implication(s) in the interaction of humans and bacteria in the context of disease? Do you think we will be treating the bacteria or the human symptoms or temper with both? Being presented with the interplay of humans and bacteria, has this article changed your overall perception of bacteria as being "bad for you"?
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Although I think treating with bacteria could be a potential of the future, I worry that these procedures could cause even more dangerous consequences. After fighting off symptoms, what will happen to the treatment bacteria - could they begin to do harm now in our bodies? Also, I feel as though by fighting off the bacteria in our bodies, we could potentially be putting our bodies at risk for other harmful microbes. What if the bacterias that cause disease fight off more harmful microbes? Thus, I think before this procedure begins to be used we should consider what additional side effects may result from such treatment.
ReplyDeleteI think generally most people think that any type of bacteria is harmful and dangerous to us. But this is not the case. There exist bacteria that live within our bodies and help to keep our immune systems at a healthy equilibrium. To better understand how bacteria and humans interact it is helpful to know that there are 3 types of bacteria. Commensalistic bacteria benefits the bacteria but doesn't help or harm the host. Mutualistic bacteria are beneficial to both the human host and the bacteria. And finally parasitic bacteria is beneficial to the bacteria but the human host is harmed. I think it is important to be aware of relationship that a certain kind of bacteria has with the host because that can help us figure out if the bacteria is causing disease in the human. If the bacteria is not causing harm to the human then we have to make sure that medications that we are taking do not attack those types of bacteria.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to bacteria I think everyone pretty much knows that there are both harmful and good bacteria, the good ones being the ones that we should not kill and try to maintain in our body systems. When I first read the story about the girl at Mass General Hospital I was extremely surprised and taken aback with what the doctors had done but if you think about it, it kind of makes sense. The girl had the bad bacteria in her body and was missing the good bacteria, which helped to fight the disease. From the article, I think that once more research is done on human and bacterial relationships and what it is they do in our bodies, more unanswered questions will come to light and this area will no longer be so gray and more treatments will come about for bacterial infections, etc. I think that during this we will not only be treating the bacteria but we will also be tempering with the human system, so doing a little bit of both. This will help us tweek things and perhaps get our bodies and the bacteria in them, working in a way that is beneficial to us. Overall, I think this article just proves the fact that not all bacteria are bad for you but that there is also good bacteria that can help us and we should most definitely take advantage of this in various medical situations. I think that people need to learn that there are good bacteria out there and that its not all about killing all bacteria possible but that we should only aim to attack the ones that cause us harm.
ReplyDeleteThis article has highlighted that due to the interplay of humans and bacteria, bacteria are not bad for us and could actually enhance human health. The article states that gastrointestinal tracts are composed of over 10 trillion bacteria. These bacteria produce essential amino acids and vitamins that aid in immune system regulation. In fact, the current Human Microbiome Project, which studies microorganisms, like bacteria, associated with humans, could have significant implications as the Human Genome project did. With the help of metagenomics, researchers hope to determine whether we share a core microbial genome in order to determine how the microbiomes are related with human health and disease. For example, one of the geneticists in the article claimed that bacteria is so important that they are “more like additional organs of our bodies.” In the Human Microbiome Project, great medical advances can be achieved with this bacterial research. As one professor stated, “We expect to see important developments in the next few years against a variety of cancers, particularly of the digestive tract, as well as Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and stillbirths due to bacterial vaginosis.” In the near future, I think we will be treating both bacteria and human symptoms simultaneously. Geneticists will be able to observe an individual’s microbes, maintain stable regulation, and make the needed bacterial adjustments in order to prevent disease, as with the case of the little girl in MGH.
ReplyDeleteThe article points out that microbes involved in our own metabolic system have co-evolved with us for millions of years. In a way, their part in our bodies is similar to that of our own genes - if a strain that is critical for our health is missing, its function won't be carried out. Bacterial DNA is just as important to our bodies as our own. As someone who comes from a family where Chron's has been passed down for several generations, I can understand how exciting these implications are which come from the project. Although there are still uncertainties about whether or not the research and its clinical utility is valid, the mere fact that this technology is developing and is starting to be used as a medical tool is very exciting.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in high school I was told that the antibacterial hand sanitizers were actually more harmful than it was beneficial to one's health, due to the existence of both "good and bad" bacteria. It's not that surprising that researchers are now looking to specifically target bacteria to come up with treatments. When researchers sequence a majority of the bacterial species, I think that it would be more efficient for researches to shift their focus toward treating bacteria. Hopefully monitoring and subsequently treating the deficiencies or over-abundance of certain bacteria in a patient's system results in faster recovery and less pain/suffering.
ReplyDeleteThe article strongly suggests that bacteria, in the context of disease, can actually be beneficial towards our health through its interaction with our bodies, as shown by the life-saving treatment event in Boston. Further research into these findings is definitely worth it if it could potentially save more lives in the future. I personally found it very interesting to learn about the major role the unseen bacteria and microbes that live in and on our bodies play in human health; "our gastrointestinal tracts are home to more than 10 trillion bacteria, where they make essential amino acids and vitamins, help regulate our immune systems and break down starches and proteins." The implications of the Human Microbiome Project lead us to believe that there may certainly be a future of treating the bacteria and the human symptoms with both in the medical field. By studying the bacteria in our body in more depth, researchers are able to build more evidence towards discovering which bacteria cause what diseases and also possibly find how to treat them. Being presented with the interplay of humans and bacteria, the article has definitely broadened my overall perception of bacteria as not necessarily always a bad thing, but something that is natural in our bodies that can have both negative and positive effects on us.
ReplyDeletePrior to reading this article, I was aware that some bacteria are crucial for the metabolism of protein and carbohydrates in the digestion tract. However, I was not aware of the extent of the bacteria’s importance until I heard about this case in Massachusetts. On the other hand I am not completely surprised about something like this happening with parents’ new obsession with worrying about their kids coming into contact with different germs. These parents’ obsession with using sanitizers and other strong chemicals to ensure the health of their children by limiting the amount of “germs” the children come into contact with, is also working to harm their children rather than help them. These parents’ concerns are understandable, however the level/ amount of sanitation needs to be monitored and restricted, because children need to acquire their own antibodies since the antibodies they receive from their mother at birth only lasts a few months. Thus in order to build up their own immune system children must come into contact with bacteria. But due to the shift in time and the focus on preventing disease in the health field, I feel that there has been a misunderstanding in the types of and time periods when prevention is the most critical. Instead of being overly conscious about the spread of infectious diseases, parents should worry about constructing well balanced lifestyles for their children so that they can help minimize their risk of contracting chronic diseases in the future as adults. I am not saying that preventing the spread of infectious diseases is bad, rather I am trying to say that parents shouldn’t be overly obsessive with making sure their child has hand sanitizer on them all the time, because simply washing hands with warm water and soap will get rid of most germs.
ReplyDeleteI think referring to certain bacteria as being good while others are bad is too confusing and is a major cause in the misunderstanding between healthcare providers and the average citizen. I believe the media plays a big role in convoluting the difference between what are considered good and bad bacteria, because most of the time when there is news about bacteria it is followed by “infection” or “disease” or other terms that carry bad connotations with it. Thus when the average citizen hears bacteria, whether they are aware that both good and bad types exist, they immediately assume it’s the “bad” bacteria that is being talked about.
Like Miranda, I also have concerns about such an intensive investigation into the naturally occurring species of the human body. I think that wherever the Human Microbiome Project takes us, it is important for scientists to remind the rest of society that not all bacteria is bad, and there are in fact many that confer protective advantages and must be kept in balance with one another. If we tamper too much with the bacteria in our bodies, the healthy balance that naturally helps our bodies to ward off disease might also be tampered with, possibly resulting in new bacterial disease that may arise in the face of the depletion of all bacteria in the genome (in the most extreme case), whether good or bad.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, the research done through the Human Microbiome Project would be extremely beneficial in particular cases, such as the Mass Gen Hospital's last, last-resort life saving treatment. By being able to look up the genome of particular bacteria in certain parts of the body, doctors would be able to see which protective bacteria were missing and possibly having life-threatening effects, thereby quickly identifying which ones needed to be reintroduced into the patient's system. I feel as though such a project has a great deal of potential if used in appropriate settings.
I think the Human Microbiome Project has implications to the field of medicine similar to that of the Human Genome Project. In the article, "Why the Human Microbiome Project Should Motivate Epidemiologists to Learn Ecology" by Foxaman et al., the authors illuminate on the significance of the relationship between the host (humans) and the microbiota. If disease occurs, this relationship can be jeopardized, disrupting normal microbial functions and thus harming the host. While it is understandable that communities vary greatly between people, I think the Human Microbiome Project has the potential to identify a "normal," or healthy, community model for different regions of the body. In a sense, comparing an ailing host's microbial communities to the healthy model could give become an important diagnostic tool. While the types and densities of microbes are dynamic, very much unlike the human genome, investigating these populations has the potential to help us further understand the human body and its health maintenance.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the importance of "good bacteria" has been pushed greatly in the past few years, especially by yogurt companies so I think that the general public is already aware of their importance. However, I think increasing our understanding may create new treatments for diseases such as Crohn's or IBS since doctors will no longer just test for the presence of "bad bacteria" but also if there is a lack of "good bacteria". I think doctors will treat the symptoms first but if the patient does not improve that doctors would then progress to determine if the level off bacteria are too low or too high and what types of bacteria are present. I think had I read this article several years ago it would have changed my outlook on bacteria but this article felt like a more informative version of what yogurt brands, such as Activia, have been advertising for a few years.
ReplyDeleteI am currently taking microbiology, and on the first day of class my professor continued to say how important bacteria are to our health and how understanding them can have an impact on our health. I agree that for how important the relationship between bacteria and humans is we do not know allot, and I think this Human Microbiome Project will shed allot of light on the subject. I think this area of research has allot of potential including normal human flora and environmental effects but also things like antibiotic resistance and bacterial evolution.
ReplyDeleteOut of all the topics that have been discussed on this blog, I think this one is one of the least controversial--it is generally agreed upon that there are good bacteria that live in us and help our bodies function properly and that ingesting bacteria can be a good thing (ie: eating yogurt). The story in the article about the young girl is definitely a cool story, but like many others topics discussed, this still has its drawbacks. Our bodies have learned how to live with good bacteria and fight off harmful bacteria. I think one of the drawbacks of tampering with this system is similar to overusing antibiotics. When a person becomes dependent on antibiotics, bacteria become resistant to it. If we start treating problems with too much bacteria, our bodies might start relying on us introducing the bacteria. Or, if the bacteria being used looks foreign to a body, it will attack it, which will cause negative effects. But I think for some diseases, like Chron's disease, this has the potential to do more good than harm. -Becca Adlman
ReplyDeleteI find this article fascinating. The Human Microbiome Project seems very optimistic and it would help people who have long-lasting conditions like asthma and skin conditions as described in the article. Ever since I came to college, I have learned that the notion of bacteria being bad is not a 100% factual. We have bacteria living with us every single day as part of our skin, intestines, reproductive system, and much more. These bacteria protect us from foreign invasive bacteria and in some cases even cancer. Many articles claim that bacteria can help fight cancer, I think this seems innovating. As the article portrays, bacteria is part of our organism and surely plays an important role in our development and survival. This is an area that should be further explored and we could have potential benefits. What if bacteria are found to help some organs survive thus reducing the likelihood of organ failure, which as many of you know leads to organ donations and worst cases organ selling and exploitation in underdeveloped countries like India? This is just a hypothetical scenario but who knows.
ReplyDeleteI think this new field could relief many of our worries in regards to disease and overtime it could be cost efficient. Maybe with time we find that bacteria alter our genetic makeup as well. When I was in high school, I had a friend who has a severe stomach ulcer condition and I think this type of treatment could be beneficial for her and many other people who undergo severe conditions that require careful supervision. I think we would treating both the condition and use bacteria as a treatment--some conditions might just need the right balance of health and bad bacteria. Overall, this new area seems promising and I think we should definitely see what it has to offer.
I think that was brilliant of the doctors to use bacteria to cure that little girl's infection. Unfortunately, most people fail to recognize the importance of bacteria in our life. In the age where Purell is sold by the gallon, we need to also recognize that not every microbe is out to get us. As pointed out, humans and bacteria work symbiotically to coexist as one. Failure to recognize that relationship could be detrimental to anyone's health as seen with the little girl.
ReplyDeleteTo say we should treat the human symptoms but not the bacteria does not make sense because both need to survive in order to survive as a whole. Hopefully in the future, more research like the Human Microbe Project will be investigated to explain the relationship between humans and microbes. If anything, this article has made me appreciate my microbes more :)
In 2008, research found correlations between the benefits of consuming probiotic food and increased immunology. Although the thought of eating bacteria directly in food may make some people feel nauseated but the truth is bacteria is always in food. The difference is the bacteria found in probiotics have proven to provide natural and acquired immune responses and with the management/ prevention of certain digestion related diseases/ disorders (Gill and Prasad, 2008). Just think yogurt with an extra "kick." Yum!
http://www.fk.uwks.ac.id/elib/Arsip/E-Library/e-book/BIOKIMIA%20-%20BIOCHEMISTRY/Bioactive%20Components%20of%20Milk.pdf#page=425
This is extremely intriguing because we are always taught that bacteria is a bad thing and in most cases it is. Some of the bacteria in our bodies is beneficial in fighting infection and actually protecting our bodies. I believe the correlation between the 2 and the action we should take should be cautionary. I believe until more research is done to discover what types of bacteria are good or bad and how to treat those bad bacteria we should stick to treating human symptoms from bacteria. It was extremely interesting to treat that little girls symptoms with bacteria because some bacteria is alive to fight infection and that is a logical use for it. I can't say if I was that little girl or her family member I would be extremely comfortable with a doctor using bacteria to treat my daughters illness, but if it is effective then I don't see the problem. I also believe more research needs to be done in this department to discover what types of bacteria could be effective in disease treatment. I think the human microbiome project could be effective with skin conditions and other diseases that affect a lot of people and I think this is an extremely intriguing project. I think this could be most effective in a college campus or in any school program because the amount of bacteria is ridiculous good or bad.
ReplyDeleteAs a few other students mentioned previously, I am concerned about the dangerous consequences in response to such intensive and invasive treatment. How will the individual be affected in the long run? Aside from that, which bacteria is it that scientists and doctors are researching and testing: commensalistic, mutualistic, or parasitic (good or bad bacteria)? It is incredibly important to understand the full scale of the research and know how the bacteria will interact with its host. “Human Microbiome Project” is an example of how not all bacteria is bad for you and that there is a necessity for further research in regards to the advantages and disadvantages of using it as treatment. With this in mind, I think that there will be a combination of treating both the bacteria as well as the human symptoms. My personal opinion of "bad" or "good" bacteria has been influenced by this case in MA. I have a more realistic understanding of the importance of the medical use of bacteria in treatments and no longer completely disagree with it (after learning about the outcome from the little girl's case). Still, it worries me what the long term effects will be on the patient.
ReplyDeleteI have learned in previous classes that bacteria are necessary in our bodies and a disruption in the normal flora can cause sickness. This is why over prescribing antibiotics or using antibacterial soaps can have an adverse affect if overused because they kill the bacteria that are helpful and allow other foreign bacteria to go rampant and cause harm. I thought the idea of having the patient ingest typical bacteria that should be present but is not to fix a gastrointestinal problem is a really inventive idea. I think this procedure will be used in the future because it makes sense that the issue stems from the patient not having the normal bacteria in their gut that they need. By putting in bacteria that has evolved to be in the gut doctors are not adding any foreign object or medication to the patient. I see it running parallel to admistering fluids to a person who is dehydrated. The usually have fluids and need them to recover like a person needs normal flora and needs them to recover. I would worry about this technique being used in the present because there has not been enough research conducted to determine if there were any side effects long or short term. For now, I think treatment should focus on treating human symptoms but I would hope that in the next decade this method could be used especally as drug resistance is becoming an ever present danger.
ReplyDeleteBefore this article, I did know that there were "good" and "bad" bacteria that existed in our bodies but I did not realize to what extent bacteria plays a role in our health. The Human Microbiome Project is an exciting new research program that I think will have drastic implications for how we look to treat illness. The situation at Mass General was unique and while the treatment was innovative successful, I do not think that using bacteria in such a way is feasible yet in too many other cases. As mentioned in the article, it is not possible to culture all of the different types of bacteria in our bodies so I am uncertain as to how far this research can ultimately go. I think for now that it is a worthwhile pursuit but eventually we may have to accept that we will never truly understand the interplay between bacteria and our bodies.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great article to support the idea that not all bacteria are “bad” for you. Especially with the huge initiatives of hospitals to use antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers, most people are being misled that ‘bacteria’ across the board must be harmful to your health and should be rid of. Media also feeds into this idea by the heavy promotion of cleaning your home being synonymous with ‘disinfecting’ your home of ‘harmful’ sickness causing bacteria. But with most misconceptions, education is key to change. With the information we will have through the Human Microbiome Project, this will only help us better understand the role of bacteria in our bodies and the particular mechanisms they are carrying out. Eventually, we will be able to treat both the human and bacteria to maximize the outcome of the patient. I feel the implications are extremely promising for improving human health when we can better manage and or manipulate the bacterial flora in our systems, most obviously proven to be true in the case of the little girl. Some sort of bacterial therapy might even be useful for a multitude of diseases, whether manipulating ratios of different bacteria or switching genes on or off in existing bacterial flora currently in our systems. More research is necessary to pinpoint the particular genetic components of the bacteria, the ideal combinations of bacterial flora and in what conditions will maximize their performance and more broadly being able to link their roles to the functions of our systems.
ReplyDeleteThis article clearly illustrates why come bacteria can be both good and bad for you. Even to the point of life or death. In this specific case, bacteria was life-saving and it is evident that it plays important roles in human health. I think with extensive research from the Human Microbiome project, doctors will eventually be able to treat both the human and bacteria. This will be a huge stepping stone in the progress of medicine. The possibilities are endless, and there may even be a type of bacteria that can treat numerous diseases. "All told, there are hundred, maybe thousands of species inside us that have yet to be cultured in a lab, or even identified." Basically the sky is the limit and even though we may never be able to understand the interplay between bacteria and our bodies, it is a worthwhile shot considering the positive outcomes that can result from it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of the comments made above. The article clearly demonstrates how bacteria can be beneficial to our health. It can help us to understand and maybe even someday help doctors to treat or prevent certain diseases. In addition, I think that we are going to be treating both the bacteria and the human symptoms. As seen in the article, the doctors could not figure out how to help the little girl through medical interventions. But rather when they introduced more of the bacteria that was hurting her already, she got better. Thus, it can be seen that in this example they treated the bacteria in the end. I think that looking both at the human symptoms and the bacteria is going to become an integral part in treating certain conditions and diseases. Lastly, I have always been told that bacteria can be both bad and good for you. So this just furthers my understanding of how some bacteria can be good for humans.
ReplyDeleteAs everyone has mentioned, it is important for us to realize that bacteria is as much of a good thing as it is bad. If you were to walk up to a person on the street and ask them, "What is bacteria?" I believe that most people would respond with some negative connotation, believing it causes disease and infection. Bacteria is certainly put in the spotlight as being something we associate with negative outcomes. Due to research being done by the Human Microbiome Project and others, it is perhaps now gaining more awareness as a positive thing. Perhaps we must be more prudent with antibiotic prescriptions in the future, given bacterias' symbiotic relationship with our own bodies. As we gain more of an understanding of the genomes of these bacteria that are so closely tied to us, we could possibly tailor improved antibiotic medications that would be more effective at targeting the "bad" bacteria, and allowing the "good" bacteria to continue to do it's job without being harmed. Also we would be able to gain a better understanding of bacteria resistance to antibiotics and the interplay between this and our bodies. Also to reiterate, as Meghan mentioned above, current overprescription of antibiotics and overuse of antibacterial soap plays a vital role in bacteria resistance, research such as this will aid and direct efforts away from misguided fallacies such as these, in believing that overusing antibacterial things will only help matters, when in fact it is heightening the problems at hand ( I.E Staph infection in hospitals )
ReplyDeleteI have learned that not all bacteria is bad for you, some are actually needed in order for our bodies to function normally. I think we often forget that because of the adverse effects some bacteria have when we get sick or get some infection. Like many have said before, the promotion of the use of hand sanitizers and emphasizing washing our hands really contribute, I think, to this view on bacteria. I think the Human Microbiome Project is an integral part to us understanding the differences between good and bad bacteria and will further education the general population. From the article, it is amazing how introducing bacteria could help the little girl get better, but I'm not completely sold on introducing bacteria as a means of treatment yet. I think there should be more tests and research just to make sure there aren't any other detrimental effects. Otherwise, this can only be beneficial to the field of medicine and would be an amazing addition to the treatment of disease. This will open up so many more options and maybe new treatments will be able to replace more costly ones and may even be able to produce better results.
ReplyDeleteI have always had the mantality that not all bacteria was bad for you and this article goes to prove my point in the matter. With the success of vaccinations these days (which is the introduction of bacteria that once ran rampid in the body of a past person along with alterations in the formation of the bacteria...antibodies if you may)the idea that bacteria can have a benificial position in ones lives. I assume that the next implications in the interaction of humans and bacteria in hte context of disease will be looked at in a brighter light. I believe that doctors and medical health care providers will look to antibiotics for assistance in disease reversal, but will also look to the introduction of more of the bacteria, like the article stated, to reverse the effects of the disease when all else fails. This is only when past approaches dont work. It wouldnt be their initial answer but it will be considered as a possible helping factor. I believe that in the future, and, with this study as evidence, we will be treating the bacteria and the human symptoms in coorelation to each other. We will treat the bacteria and the symptoms of the patient as though they were related. For sure, this story has put more evidence to my theory that all bacteria isnt bad for you. Now it just proves that it can actually save your life.
ReplyDeleteAfter this research continues I feel that people will change from blaming bacteria for sickness and start looking towards bacteria for treatment. The public is very aware of how bacteria can be harmful, after all that idea is grilled into children’s heads at a young age. It will be interesting to see if people can get over that idea of bad bacteria and be able to view them as helpful. Once the stigma around bacteria is gone I think medical professionals will start to treat the bacteria in our bodies, as well the symptoms patients are experiences. This will be beneficial because so many types of bacteria help in our bodies and save us from other more harmful types of bacteria and infections.
ReplyDeleteBefore this article I knew that there were many types of bacteria in our bodies that helped us. I had never really thought about the benefits of sequencing the bacteria DNA though. I think that this whole project is very interesting and definitely will change many peoples view on bacteria being ‘bad for you.’
While reading this article, I found the author to stress the importance of the bacteria causing disease because of its genetics and characteristics and from that explain how it can affect parts of the body where it is not intended to be. Because there is both this genetic aspect and then an interaction between the bacteria and humans, I think that in the future both treating the bacteria and the human symptoms must be done.
ReplyDeleteFor the bacteria that are able to survive outside the body in test tubes, I think that further research will be focused on treating the bacteria and finding ways to either prevent its spread throughout the body or to develop a way that the bacteria will not harm other parts of the body (whether it’s tinkering with the genetic material or creating a drug/treatment). This process will likely take a long time, which stresses the importance of treating human symptoms. As in the case of the child in the introduction, simply extracting the bacteria and putting it in her stomach allowed a full recovery; treatments as such will probably be easier and faster to generate than treatment of the bacteria itself.
In the case of bacteria that are not able to survive in the test tube and be sequenced, right now the only viable option seems to be treatment of the human symptoms. Clearly, we are not able to develop enough information about the bacteria and the way it works to even begin to treat the bacteria. Therefore, the human-bacteria interaction must be stressed so we can attack it at a human level, rather than the bacteria level. Although the ultimate goal of treating the bacteria can have larger and more widespread medical benefits, that is probably far in the future. Until then, we cannot divert all efforts from simply treating each individual’s symptoms.
The article did also shed new light on the benefits bacteria has in conjunction with the human body. It cannot be said that bacteria is inherently “bad for you.” It all depends on whether the bacteria is in the right bodily path, helping the body, or whether it has spread to other places causing inflammation and disease.
Prior to reading this article, I had no idea to what extent bacteria was a crucial part of our daily lives. There are over 10 trillion alone in just the gastrointestinal tract. Whenever we enable a specific regiment of treatments, it is always important to take into account what side effects will be associated with it. New treatments, especially ones who concern themselves with the intricate balance of the human body must always be taken extremely serious. Too many people are quick to pop prescription antibiotics anytime they don't feel well. This is a problem because it allows existing bacteria in our bodies to develop resistance to those antibodies and thus becomes a “super” bacteria. Contrary to popular belief, not all bacterias are harmful.There are three types of bacteria that exist in terms of their relationship to humans. The first: commensalistic bacteria, doesn't help or harm the host. Mutualistic bacteria benefit themselves and the human host. Parasitic bacteria is beneficial to the bacteria but detrimental to the human host. The ability of the doctor's to recognize this fact and actually use “good” bacteria to cure the little girl of her infection illustrates the disconnect between doctors and the average citizen when it comes to the context of bacteria. The media has certainly had its share of influence over the average citizen. Usually whenever we hear of bacteria its usually in a negative context and almost certainly followed by infection or the spreading of diseases. People must realize that not every living bacteria is parasitic and therefore not harmful to humans.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this article, I found the author to stress the importance of the bacteria causing disease because of its genetics and characteristics and from that explain how it can affect parts of the body where it is not intended to be. Because there is both this genetic aspect and then an interaction between the bacteria and humans, I think that in the future both treating the bacteria and the human symptoms must be done.
ReplyDeleteFor the bacteria that are able to survive outside the body in test tubes, I think that further research will be focused on treating the bacteria and finding ways to either prevent its spread throughout the body or to develop a way that the bacteria will not harm other parts of the body (whether it’s tinkering with the genetic material or creating a drug/treatment). This process will likely take a long time, which stresses the importance of treating human symptoms. As in the case of the child in the introduction, simply extracting the bacteria and putting it in her stomach allowed a full recovery; treatments as such will probably be easier and faster to generate than treatment of the bacteria itself.
In the case of bacteria that are not able to survive in the test tube and be sequenced, right now the only viable option seems to be treatment of the human symptoms. Clearly, we are not able to develop enough information about the bacteria and the way it works to even begin to treat the bacteria. Therefore, the human-bacteria interaction must be stressed so we can attack it at a human level, rather than the bacteria level. Although the ultimate goal of treating the bacteria can have larger and more widespread medical benefits, that is probably far in the future. Until then, we cannot divert all efforts from simply treating each individual’s symptoms.
The article did also shed new light on the benefits bacteria has in conjunction with the human body. It cannot be said that bacteria is inherently “bad for you.” It all depends on whether the bacteria is in the right bodily path, helping the body, or whether it has spread to other places causing inflammation and disease.
As many have already stated, Bacteria can be both beneficial and harmful to humans. The article explained that The Human Microbiome Project will be used to map out the 900 plus microbes found in the human body in order to advance medical treatment. I think this information will be useful because bacteria are present in all aspects of our lives. The article also mentions associations between bacteria in the mouth, including gum disease, as a source of brain inflammation leading to Alzheimer’s. Even asthma has a connection to bacteria that are present in the lungs of patients who have the condition. By mapping out microbes in the human body, researchers will be better able to study the interactions between microbes and the humans who serve as hosts for the bacteria. After reading this article, I think the next implications for microbes will involve producing artificial bacteria to treat human illness. While this might be years away, it is certainly an interesting prospect. It is important to remember that bacteria can co-exist with humans to help us lead healthy lives. This article highlights the potential to change the currently negative reputation of bacteria into a positive one among the general public.
ReplyDeleteAlthough many people assume that most bacteria is bad for you, this article emphasizes that some bacteria are in fact extremely beneficial and can possibly life-saving. After reading this article, scientists should further increase their research on this good bacteria, its obvious that this research may take decades but if I were put in the situation of the young girl or even the parents I would be quite uneasy of the fact that these doctors were just putting random things in a body and hoping things might work out. The fact that the doctors were able to treat this young 2 year old by simply adding bacteria to her body should only further emphasize the great importance that bacteria can do fight infections, so that if something like this were to happen again scientists would know exactly what bacteria they should or should not use.
ReplyDeleteHowever, although bacteria can be beneficial we must also recognize the implications that bacteria can cause as well. Because so little is known about the effect of various types of bacteria there is a great chance that there may be possible adverse consequences that can occur. In article in science news, stresses the idea of the implications of bacteria in the immune system. From the articles, people must realize that not every living bacteria is harmful and can be quite beneficial but may also realize that bacteria is harmful and it is important that more research is done to be able to determine how to distinguish the "good" from the "bad" ones. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100127095945.htm.
I agree with earlier comments that there is an overuse of antibiotics that is causing problems with antibiotic resistance. I think the general public sees antibacterial hand sanitizer or soap as a good thing when its actually helping develop bacterial resistance issues with infections and removes helpful strains. It would help if the industry worked with the public on this and made it more common to buy hand soap that's not antibacterial.
ReplyDeleteThe article reminded me of how penicillin is a medicine derived from a mold, and in that sense this kind of microbial therapy already exists. I agree with Miranda that its important to understand all the potential risks in new therapies that introduce new bacterial strains, as there is the potential for harmful side effects. But given all the proven benefits of penicillin or the treatment the girl in Boston received, there is some definite potential in this area.
This article really fascinated me because it is so true that we often do not even pay attention to the millions or bacteria in our bodies until we get sick, and then we see the bacteria as a bad thing. After reading this article, I realized just how much sense it will make to look at the bacteria behind every disease in order to possibly eventually have the artificially engineered microbes that can come in and to battle the diseases in our bodies. Moreover, it will be great to look at the human microbiome in order to see all the bacterial similarities among humans in order to really be able to see where the differences that lead to diseases lie. Though some bacteria cause disease, there are millions more that are actively fighting to prevent the disease from taking a toll on us. The bacteria working in our bodies are little tiny helping hands that we often forget and do not give credit to, but they work hard every day to fight off diseases, digest foods, etc every day. I knew that bacteria are important in food digestion and fighting disease, but this article definitely gave me a different outlook to think about when it comes to just how important bacteria can be to the human body.
ReplyDeleteAs many have already stated, Bacteria can be both beneficial and harmful to humans. The article explained that The Human Microbiome Project will be used to map out the 900 plus microbes found in the human body in order to advance medical treatment. I think this information will be useful because bacteria are present in all aspects of our lives. The article also mentions associations between bacteria in the mouth, including gum disease, as a source of brain inflammation leading to Alzheimer’s. Even asthma has a connection to bacteria that are present in the lungs of patients who have the condition. By mapping out microbes in the human body, researchers will be better able to study the interactions between microbes and the humans who serve as hosts for the bacteria. After reading this article, I think the next implications for microbes will involve producing artificial bacteria to treat human illness. While this might be years away, it is certainly an interesting prospect. It is important to remember that bacteria can co-exist with humans to help us lead healthy lives. This article highlights the potential to change the currently negative reputation of bacteria into a positive one among the general public.
ReplyDeleteIn the future I think that we will be playing around with bacteria to help ourselves. I recently learned about the fecal transplant that the young girl had and thought it was absolutely fascinating. To introduce more bacteria into the body is absolutely the last thing I would ever think of to help anyone. I don't doubt in the future that we will be using bacteria as a common medicine.
ReplyDeleteThis article does change my perception of bacteria as a "bad thing." I don't like how everyone today treats bacteria as the bad guy because as this article proves, it's not. Every time I wash my hands with anti-bacterial soap I am killing 99.9% of the bacteria on my hands, bad AND good. As people in sargent we understand the importance of bacteria, but the lay public does not. We need to educate them about how bacteria is actually helpful and can save lives.
The Human Microbiome Project is an interesting project because it will lead to many discoveries of diseases in reference to good and bad bacteria. Treating the bacteria and also the human symptoms for a disease should be the optimal choice because both can be the cause of complications in disease. If the bacteria are treated, it can save lives just like the example of the young girl in MGH. If the symptoms are treated, it can also be beneficial to the patient because it will prevent untreated symptoms to worsen the condition. The article has not changed my perception about bacteria because I knew that our normal flora consists of bacteria that are necessary in our bodies. Not all bacteria are harmful, which is why it is also bad to take antibiotics when they are not needed because it can kill off the good bacteria, and it can lower your immune system because the remaining bacteria becomes resistant to the antibiotics.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like most people generally think that bacteria is bad for you, but there's also good bacteria in our bodies that keep us healthy. This article reminds me of why some doctors are hesitant to prescribe antibiotics because they kill both bad and good bacteria. That's why the Human Microbiome Project could be an interesting development of treating illness because it can target the bad bacteria. In the future, I think we'll be utilizing more techniques like this. I also think that not only will we be treating bacteria, but we'll still be advancing in treating human symptoms as well. I agree with J. Cano that by treating the combination of bacteria and symptoms should be the optimal choice because both cause complications in the disease.
ReplyDeleteS. Marchese brings up a good point about antibiotics. When I went to Ghana, I was taking Doxycyclene to prevent malaria. I had to take it every day for a couple of weeks before I left the U.S., for the entire three weeks that I was in Africa, and then for eight weeks after I came back. If I knew then what I know now about what antibiotics can do to your body, I probably would have been a lot more nervous about taking one for such a long period of time. I knew that bacteria could be helpful before I read this article, but I did not know the extent to which different types of them could affect people’s health.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that the future will entail tempering both bacteria and human symptoms. Now that we know so much more about the importance of bacteria, it would just be silly to ignore the potential they have to help treat diseases.
Knowledge of "good bacteria" has been around for years, though it has only been in the past few years with the advent of good bacteria yogurt commercials that most of the general public has been exposed to the idea. Even some bacteria that is harmful when entering the body from an outside source, like E.coli, exists within the digestive tract and is important for proper digestion. While some people may still view bacteria as universally bad, the benefits of bacteria are becoming more widely recognized. As many have already mentioned, this may bode well in reversing the trend of the overprescription of antibiotics and the compulsive use of antibacterial sanitizers. The hygiene hypothesis of conditions like allergies and eczema has for years claimed that an overly sterile environment inhibits balanced functioning of the immune system, resulting in partial hyperactivity triggering immune responses to harmless agents like pollen. I think this article reiterates what many studies have already suggested over the years.
ReplyDeleteI think that as the Human Microbime Project continues to improve knowledge of the role of bacteria in the functioning of humans, it could yield many more treatment options such as the one used on the girl at MGH. I'd never seen or heard of treating infections with other bacteria before this article, and I think that using biological agents like bacteria and viruses to treat patients may be the next big development in medical research.
Prior to reading this article, I knew that bacteria had some roles in the body. However, I was fascinated to discover how great of a role bacteria, in the context of disease, can actually have that potential to be beneficial to human. The fact that the physicians that treated the case in Massachusetts, by treating an infection with bacteria, was simply ingenious. Present day, people have the idea that bacteria is bad for us- everything now with Purrell and Lysol is designed to kill 99.9% of bacteria. Further research should be done with the Human Microbiome Project to discover, in what other ways bacteria can benefit humans
ReplyDeleteI agree with the poster who stated that this is one of the least controversial posts. Having exposure to many health classes through Sargent, I wasn't surprised to learn that bacteria can be beneficial to humans, and that we have bacteria living in our bodies.
ReplyDeleteAntibacterials are more of a concern because trying to wipe out bad bacteria only breeds stronger strains of bacteria if it isn't used correctly.
I found this article interesting in that it provided an extensively explanation on the benefits of bacteria rather than focus on the known harms. Prior to enrolling in courses such as microbiology et al, I too believed that all bacteria was bad for you. I believed that the best ways to fight infection were through antibiotics and perhaps that is why this article piqued my interest so much. To know that scientists are diligently working with the Human Microbiome Project to develop therapies in which bacteria is put into the body to balance bacteria levels and fight off infections is just another example of how revolutionary the field of medicine is becoming. As we get older, we will begin to see that old treatments and therapies that we have come to accept are being replaced by the unimaginable. A therapy in which bacteria are inserted into the body to fight infection and replace imperfect bacteria levels to their natural states is remarkable. In the United States too many people are dying from chronic diseases and therapies such as these could help prevent that. I strongly support the project and am interested in following its progress throughout the next few years.
ReplyDeleteAs many posts have already mentioned, people seem to forget about the good bacteria in our bodies when it comes to fighting the bad bacteria. I recently had Lyme disease complicated by bronchitis and pneumonia and had to be on Doxycyclene for about 2 months which did so much damage to my body that I was not expecting. Not only did it kill the bad bacteria, it killed the good bacteria as well, particularly in my digestive tract. I couldn't digest anything, and got sick from everything I ate (the last thing I needed when I was already so sick). My doctor ended up putting me on a probiotic pill in addition to the antibiotic to try to restore my body to equilibrium. So essentially, my doctor used a technique similar to the doctor in the article, using good bacteria to help restore the body to health. It seems shocking at first but I think this is a technique that could be used more often; people need to remember the limitations of antibiotics and use other methods in conjunction so as not to destroy the body.
ReplyDeleteGiven the hundreds of different bacteria that colonize both our skin and our intestinal tract, I think the Human Microbiome Project is relevant for the light it will shed on this symbiotic relationship. I have never thought of bacteria as being "bad," because I have always known that some of the bacterial fauna in our gut play useful metabolic roles, as in the digestion of food. Hopefully, this project will show how humans and bacteria came to live together in this mutualistic relationship. As J. Daniels and other students have mentioned, I think there is a real danger when doctors attempt to treat the kinds of bacteria that have evolved to live on or in humans. However, when the equilibrium between bacteria and humans in disrupted, I believe doctors can intervene to restore the balance. In the future, I don't think doctors will be treating bacteria separately from humans, rather, I think doctors will be seeking ways to allow the helpful bacteria in our bodies to thrive, while making sure the people are leading healthy lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree with many of the above comments on that this issue is not the most controversial of the blog. Bacteria have been proven to have positive benefits to humans and are an important part of our make-up. Doctors must be careful in how they explain bacteria to patients because to the uninformed, bacteria may have a negative connotation in their minds. Viral therapies have existed for ages in protecting against greater viral threats or treating an illness. How these therapies are marketed is a crucial part of the public's acceptance of them. Scientist would often use names that do not imply that a virus is being used to fight another virus. Bacteria must deal with the fact that its main form of marketing is in commercials for antibacterials or for products promising to get rid of 99% of bacteria. In general, people view bacteria as harmful which is an unfair stereotype that has been created. The human genome project could open the door to the information of the benefits of bacteria. By understanding bacteria and how it works, scientists have a better chance of accurately treating humans that are ill. Studying the bad bacteria will be useful in finding how to best treat it and get rid of it without having it mutate to become antibacterial resistant. Studying the good bacteria will be beneficial in finding how to best maintain healthy balances in the digestive system and in using the healthy bacteria from one person to improve the health of another person as the article explains.
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